Bideford College hosts life-saving cardiac screenings

Bideford College, part of Athena Learning Trust, has partnered with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) to provide a vital cardiac screening event for 14-35 year olds in North Devon.

The event is part of an ongoing effort to support the community service funded by local fundraising in memory of Martyn Luckett from Hartland, who passed away from sudden cardiac death in 2005 at just 19 years old.

Martyn’s family, alongside other local supporters, raise funds to ensure that this life-saving service is available to young people in the region. 

The funds are raised through various community activities, including half and full marathons, cycling, spinning, boxing, and more. 

Charlotte, Martyn’s sister and CRY’s North Devon representative, is dedicated to spreading the charity’s message and ensuring her brother’s death was not in vain.

Charlotte said: “My Family do not wish for anyone to have the heartache we’ve had since losing Martyn, especially when frustratingly most deaths can be avoided by a simple and non-invasive ECG. This provides the passion behind our mission to continuously fundraise.”

The screening event has been running for several years and is made possible by the community’s fundraising efforts. 

Thanks to this support, the service is offered free to any young person wishing to take part.

Statistics from CRY show that one in every 300 young people tested will be identified with a potentially life-threatening condition.

Around 12 young people in the UK, under the age of 35, die suddenly from undiagnosed heart conditions every week. 

80 per cent of these deaths occur with no prior symptoms.

Dr Claire Ankers, Principal at Bideford College and Atlantic Academy, expressed her support for the event: “We are really pleased to have been able to host such an important event in our local community.  The work that CRY undertakes is invaluable and has immeasurable benefits to the young people of the Bideford Community.  The college looks forward to working closely with CRY in the future to ensure that the programme is available to even more people.”